SAHIWAL: A woman and her daughter suffered severe burn injuries after her husband and brother-in-law allegedly doused them with petrol and set them ablaze in Shadman Colony on Friday afternoon.
Rescue 1122 shifted the injured mother and daughter to Sahiwal Teaching Hospital for treatment. Eyewitnesses said the fire also destroyed household furniture and utensils before the suspects fled the scene.
Reports said Sobia Parveen, sister of complainant Muhammad Bilal and a resident of Vehari City, married Shaban Bhatti of Chak 65/5-L, Tehsil Sahiwal, around 15 years ago. The couple has five children.
Police said domestic violence had reportedly persisted throughout the marriage, with Sobia allegedly subjected to frequent abuse and severe beatings by her husband and brother-in-law. A few months ago, she left her husband’s home due to the continued violence and started living in a rented house near Shadman Chowk along with her children. She had been working as a domestic help to support the family.
On Friday, Shaban and his brother, Muhammad Azim, allegedly barged into the rented house, poured petrol on Sobia and one of her daughters, and set them on fire. The suspects also allegedly torched household belongings before escaping.
Neighbours informed Rescue 1122, which rushed the victims to Sahiwal Teaching Hospital.
Farid Town police registered a case against Shaban Bhatti and Muhammad Azim under sections 336, 324, and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code on the complaint of Muhammad Bilal.
Police had yet to arrest the suspects till the filing of the report.
RAPE SUSPECTS HELD: Police claimed on Saturday to have arrested two suspects who allegedly raped a 12-year-old girl at village 18/11-L, Tehsil Pakpattan on Friday.
Reports said parents of the girl ‘N’ had gone to visit their ailing parents at 90 Mor. During their absence, suspects ‘A’ of Khanewal and ‘Nv’ of Burewala allegedly forced their entry into the house and raped the girl. They made a video and took away Rs100,000. On the complaint of the girl’s father, Saddar Police Chichawatni registered a case under Section 375A of the Pakistan Penal Code and arrested the suspects.
Underage marriage bid: Yousafwala Police foiled an attempted child marriage in Masoo Colony on Friday night and arrested the bridegroom, his father, and the bride’s father.
Eyewitnesses said the Nikah Khwan and several other participants fled the scene when police arrived at the wedding venue.
Reports said Imran Mughal, a resident of Chak 80, was arranging the marriage of his underage daughter, Mariam, to Ahsan Ali, a resident of Kaur. The wedding procession had reached Shadman Town when police received information regarding the bride’s age.
Acting on the tip-off, police raided the venue and arrested the bride’s father, Imran Mughal, the bridegroom, Ahsan Ali, and his father, Muhammad Rafiq.
A case was registered under Sections 4, 5, and 6 of the Punjab Child Marriage Restraint Ordinance, 2026, on the complaint of Sub-Inspector Imtiaz Ali.
Police said the three suspects were booked and shifted to lock-up, while raids were being conducted at different locations to arrest the Nikah Khwan and other participants who escaped during the raid.
ARRESTED: The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) arrested an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) for taking Rs15,000 bribe in connection with the registration of a case with Yousafwala Police.
According to the report, Allah Dita, a resident of Chak 96/9-L, approached his old friend Abdul Qayyum, ASI at Civil Lines Police, seeking assistance in registering a criminal case.
Qayyum claimed that the SHO of Yousafwala was his friend and assured him that the case would be registered, but demanded Rs30,000. The deal was eventually settled at Rs15,000. Allah Dita reported the matter to the ACE that conducted a raid and recovered Rs15,000.
Subsequently, a case was registered against Abdul Qayyum on the complaint of Allah Dita.
Published in Dawn, June 7th, 2026
